2010 United States Senate election in Utah

The 2010 United States Senate election in Utah took place on November 2, 2010 along with other midterm elections throughout the United States. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Bob Bennett was seeking re-election to a fourth term, but lost renomination at the Republican party's state convention. Mike Lee proceeded to win the Republican primary against Tim Bridgewater and the general election against Democrat Sam Granato.

2010 United States Senate election in Utah
November 2, 2010
 
Nominee Mike Lee Sam Granato Scott Bradley
Party Republican Democratic Constitution
Popular vote 390,179 207,685 35,937
Percentage 61.6% 32.8% 5.7%
County Results

Lee:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Granato:      50–60%
U.S. senator before election

Bob Bennett
Republican

 Elected U.S. Senator

Mike Lee
Republican

Elections in Utah
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Mayoral elections

Process

The filing period for candidates began March 12, 2010 and ended March 19, 2010. Candidates who had not filed by that date cannot appear on the ballot in November. Eleven candidates filed with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.[1]

Both the Utah State Democratic Party and the Utah State Republican Party held statewide caucus meetings on March 23, 2010. Caucus meetings are grouped by legislative district and divided by precincts with each precinct electing delegates who attend their respective party's state nominating convention.

The Utah State Democratic and Republican Parties held their conventions on May 8, 2010. At the Republican convention, incumbent Senator Bob Bennett finished third in balloting among delegates and was eliminated from the race. Business owner Tim Bridgewater finished first and attorney Mike Lee finished second, but Bridgewater did not receive enough votes (he needed at least 60 percent) to avoid a primary election runoff against Lee.[2] At the Democratic convention, delegates nominated businessman Sam Granato, who received 77.5 percent of the vote.[3]

In the Republican primary election, held on June 22, 2010, Lee became the Republican nominee by winning 51 percent of the vote against Bridgewater's 49 percent.[4]

The general election was held on November 2, 2010. Lee won the election with 62 percent of the vote to Granato's 33 percent and 6 percent for Constitution Party candidate Scott Bradley.[5]

Republican nomination

Candidates
On Ballot
Withdrew

Endorsements

The following are endorsements made before the convention

Bennett
Notable Individuals and Organizations endorsing Bob Bennett
Lee
State/local level positions (State Senators, Governors, etc.)
  • Former Governor Norm Bangerter of Utah
  • Attorney General Mark Shurtleff
  • State Senator Curt Bramble
  • State Senator Allen Christensen
  • State Senator Mark Madsen
  • State Representative John Dougall
  • State Representative Craig Frank
  • State Representative Francis Gibson
  • State Representative Kerry Gibson
  • State Representative Todd Kiser
  • State Representative Mike Morley
  • State Representative Curt Oda
  • State Representative Ken Sumsion
  • Former State Representative John Swallow
  • State Representative Ryan Wilcox
  • State Representative Carl Wimmer
Federal politicians and Organizations

Polling
Poll Source Dates Administered Bob Bennett Tim Bridgewater Merrill Cook Cherilyn Eagar Mike Lee
Rasmussen Reports April 8, 2010 14% 14% 6% 4% 37%
Mason Dixon April 22–25, 2010 16% 20% 1% 11% 37%

Results
State Republican Convention results, 2010[13][14][15]
Candidate First ballot Pct. Second ballot Pct. Third ballot Pct.
Mike Lee 982 28.75% 1225 35.99% 1383 42.72%
Tim Bridgewater 917 26.84% 1274 37.42% 1854 57.28%
Bob Bennett 885 25.91% 905 26.99% Eliminated
Cherilyn Eagar 541 15.84% Eliminated
Merrill Cook 49 1.43% Eliminated
Leonard Fabiano 22 0.64% Eliminated
Jeremy Friedbaum 16 0.47% Eliminated
David Chiu 4 0.12% Eliminated
Total 3,416 100.00% 3,404 100.00% 3,237 100.00%

Candidates
  • Tim Bridgewater, businessman
  • Mike Lee, attorney

Endorsements
Bridgewater
Notable Individuals
Utah Mayors[17]
Lee
Federal politicians and Organizations
State/local politicians and organizations
  • Former Governor Norm Bangerter of Utah
  • Attorney General Mark Shurtleff
  • State Senator Curt Bramble
  • State Senator Allen Christensen
  • State Senator Mark Madsen
  • State Representative John Dougall
  • State Representative Francis Gibson
  • State Representative Kerry Gibson
  • State Representative Craig Frank
  • State Representative Ken Sumsion
  • State Representative Todd Kiser
  • State Representative Mike Morley
  • State Representative Curt Oda
  • State Representative Ryan Wilcox
  • State Representative Carl Wimmer
  • Former State Representative John Swallow
  • Most of the 9/12 and Tea Party Groups of Utah

Polling
Poll Source Dates Administered Tim Bridgewater Mike Lee
Wilson Research June 10, 2010 30% 39%
Deseret News/KSL-TV June 12–17, 2010 42% 33%

Results
State Republican Primary results[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Lee 98,512 51.2%
Republican Tim Bridgewater 93,905 48.8%
Total votes 192,417 100.0%

Democratic nomination

Candidates
  • Sam Granato, businessman[19]
  • Christopher Stout, accountant[20]

Results
State Democratic Convention results (First Round)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam Granato 77 77%
Democratic Christopher Stout 23 23%
Total votes 100 100.0%

General election

Candidates
  • Scott Bradley (C), businessman
  • Sam Granato (D), businessman
  • Mike Lee (R), attorney

Campaign

Granato emphasized his opposition to nuclear weapon tests in neighboring Nevada. In addition, he criticized Lee for his support of raising the retirement age and for questioning the constitutionality of Social Security.[21]

Predictions
Source Ranking As of
Cook Political Report Solid R[22] October 31, 2010
Rothenberg Safe R[23] October 28, 2010
Swing State Project Safe R
RealClearPolitics Safe R[24] October 31, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball Safe R[25] October 28, 2010
CQ Politics Safe R[26] October 31, 2010

Polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin
of error		 Sam Granato (D) Mike Lee (R) Other Undecided
Rasmussen Reports June 23, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 28% 58% 5% 9%
Rasmussen Reports August 23, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 29% 54% 5% 12%
Rasmussen Reports October 13, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 28% 61% 4% 8%
Deseret News/KSL-TV October 11–14, 2010 600 ± 4.0% 31% 53% 1% 11%
Mason-Dixon October 27, 2010 625 ± 4.0% 32% 48% 5% 15%
Deseret News/KSL-TV October 25–28, 2010 1,206 ± 3.0% 30% 57% 6% 7%

Fundraising
Candidate (Party) Receipts Disbursements Cash On Hand Debt
Mike Lee (R) $1,595,383 $1,423,494 $165,314 $57,691
Sam Granato (D) $250,607 $219,776 $30,831 $15,000
Source: Federal Election Commission[27]

Results
United States Senate election in Utah, 2010[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Lee 390,179 61.56% -7.18%
Democratic Sam Granato 207,685 32.77% +4.37%
Constitution Scott Bradley 35,937 5.67% +3.78%
Majority 182,494 28.79%
Total votes 633,801 100.00%
Republican hold Swing

References
  1. "Untitled Document". Archived from the original on March 30, 2010. Retrieved March 28, 2010.
  2. Gehrke, Robert. "Bennett out; GOP delegates reject 18-year Senate veteran - Salt Lake Tribune". Sltrib.com. Archived from the original on May 11, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  3. Loomis, Brandon. "Matheson forced into runoff election - Salt Lake Tribune". Sltrib.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  4. Gehrke, Robert (June 23, 2010). "Lee clinches GOP Senate nomination - Salt Lake Tribune". Sltrib.com. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  5. "Utah Election Results". Archived from the original on March 2, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  6. Bernick, Jr., Bob (December 6, 2008). "Bennett is gearing up for another Senate bid". Deseret News. Retrieved January 12, 2009.
  7. "ksl.com".
  8. Steinhauser, Paul; Hamby, Peter (February 25, 2010). "Bennett gets another primary challenger". CNN. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  9. Davidson, Lee (January 5, 2010). "Mike Lee enters Senate race against Bennett — with Shurtleff endorsement". Deseret News. Retrieved January 6, 2010.
  10. "Hatch endorses Bennett's re-election". ksl.com. September 5, 2009. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  11. Robert GehrkeThe Salt Lake Tribune (February 3, 2010). "Gingrich endorses Bennett re-election bid - Salt Lake Tribune". Sltrib.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  12. "Romney endorses Bob Bennett in 2010 Senate race". Heraldextra.com. April 6, 2009. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  13. Senate Race: 1st Round Results Archived May 11, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Accessed May 10, 2010
  14. Senate Race: 2nd Round Results Archived May 10, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Accessed May 10, 2010
  15. Senate Race: 3rd Round Results Archived May 12, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Accessed May 10, 2010
  16. "Tim Bridgewater Receives Key Legislative Endorsements | Bridgewater for Senate". Timbridgewater.com. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  17. "Bridgewater Announces Endorsements by Municipal Leaders | Bridgewater for Senate". Timbridgewater.com. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  18. Utah Election Results Archived June 17, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  19. "Sam Granato for U.S. Senate".
  20. "Another Democratic Challenger to Bennett".
  21. "Senate candidates take stands on Social Security reform". Archived from the original on October 1, 2010. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
  22. "Senate". Cook Political Report. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  23. "Senate Ratings". Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  24. "Battle for the Senate". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  25. "2010 Senate Ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  26. "Race Ratings Chart: Senate". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  27. "2010 House and Senate Campaign Finance for Utah". fec.gov. Archived from the original on June 22, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
  28. "Results". elections.utah.gov. Archived from the original on November 23, 2010. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
Debates
Official campaign sites (Archived)
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